Members of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Equestrian Unit arrested two Nigerian men in Hurlyvale believed to be running a “black money” scam.
The notorious scam involves the conmen selling their victims large amounts of paper, which they say could be transformed into real money by simply adding a chemical.
On Monday morning last week, members of the Equestrian Unit responded to information that two men could be dealing in drugs.
While searching the property, officers found some drugs and the goods used to scam victims through the “black money scam”.
Included in the goods recovered was a suitcase laden with clean sheets of paper the size of banknotes topped with genuine R100 notes, an ultra-violet light gadget, sheets of black paper and some chemicals.
Spokesperson for the EMPD, Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago, said the swindlers convince their potential victims that if they immerse the black paper in the chemical, it will change into real money.
“Those falling for the bait are conned into purchasing a bag supposedly full of R100 notes to the value of R100 000 for only R10 000,” he said.
One of the men was also found in possession of R14 000 in cash.
“The suspects were taken to the Edenvale Police Station and the case handed over to the SAPS Commercial Crimes Unit,” said Supt Kgasago.
